Tips for Maintaining Your Garage Door

Tips for Maintaining Your Garage Door: 

Most two-car garages are opened and closed a staggering 3,000 times a year! Think about it…work, weekly soccer practice, dinner plans, errands. You are opening your garage door more than 6-8 times daily. Your garage hardly ever gets a break. Because of this, it is important to take care of your garage to keep it running smoothly for years to come. Here are our tips any homeowner can do in order to provide preventive maintenance to their garage… 

1. Observe Your Garage Door – The simplest way to prevent further damage to your garage door is to pay attention to it. Observe the door’s condition and check for signs of wear and tear. Be sure to examine the springs, rollers, cables, and hinges for excessive wear. Another way to check if your garage door is in need of maintenance is to listen to the sounds it makes. Is it unusually loud when it comes down, or makes a grinding noise? These are all signs that your garage may need help. 
2. Lubricate Moving Parts – Lubrication helps reduce friction, minimize wear and tear, and prevent noise while opening and closing. Apply lubrication to all moving parts, such as hinges, rollers, springs, and tracks. 
3. Tighten Loose Hardware – The garage door is a powerful moving part of your home. Its many vibrations can cause hardware to loosen over time. Periodically check and tighten any loose bolts, nuts, or screws. 
4. Check the Door’s Balance – A properly balanced garage door is crucial for safe performance. An imbalanced or misaligned door can cause strain and lead to wear earlier than expected. To check your door’s balance, disconnect your opener by pulling the release handle. Then, lift your door halfway. If it stays in place, it is well-balanced. If it moves up and down, that means it is unbalanced and you should seek professional help. 
5. Clean and Clear – A well-maintained, clean, and clutter-free garage will help prevent damage in the future. Be sure to remove any debris, leaves, or cobwebs that will obstruct the door’s movement. Keeping the tracks clean of dirt and debris will help to ensure smooth operations. 

Your garage door is the largest moving object in your home, so it’s important to keep it well-maintained. If you do not have time for these steps or discover a larger problem, call one of our technicians at Ideal Garage to receive a maintenance check.